April 2019 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

Indian army will boost the firepower of its artillery units with the local-made Dhanush 155/45 Caliber towed Gun System. The Indian Army has placed an order for more than 100 Dhanush howitzers. According to an Indian newspaper, the Dhanush is now ready to enter service with the Indian Army

Luanda needs Russian military arms and equipment and is interested in developing military-technical cooperation with Moscow, Angola’s President Joao Lourenco told TASS First Deputy Director-General Mikhail Gusman in an exclusive interview.

The US and the Philippines discussed the placement of an upgraded missile system in the South China Sea to defend against Chinese expansion in the disputed territory, the South China Morning Post reported, echoed by Rosie Perper, Business Insider US. The Philippine defense department was allocated P188.2 billion ($3.6 billion) in 2019, a 34% increase from the previous year.

April 8 sees the start of the latest military exercises to take place in Latvia. Dubbed "Iron Spread 2019", the drills will involve the troops stationed in Latvia as part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) and will take place at the Adāži military ranges just outside Rīga, with center stage taken by 14 tanks.

Command of the British ground-based air defence systems has transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Army. Jt GBAD (Joint Ground Based Air Defence) was renamed to 7th Air Defence Group under the new Operational Command of the Army’s Force Troops Command.

Russian soldiers are training for the Victory Day military parade, which will take place on Red Square on May 9 to mark the 74th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) over Nazi Germany. The preparations, which are taking place at Alabino range near Moscow, have entered the final stage," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Elbit Systems' U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, has signed a definitive agreement with Harris Corporation for the acquisition of Harris' Night Vision business for a purchase price of $350 million. The transaction is conditioned on completion of Harris' proposed merger with L3 Technologies, Inc., as well as customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.

China is reportedly planning to station an elite special force from it's army in Zimbabwe, as Beijing moves to crystalize military cooperation with Harare, amid growing fears that the Asian powerhouse has formally approved plans to commence construction of an underground military base in the country, Spotlight Zimbabwe reported echoed by Itai Mushekwe/Mary-Kate Kahari on Bulawayo 24 News.

Uzbekistan`s National Guard has received a batch of Russian-made upgraded VPK-233136 Tigr 4x4 multi-purpose armored vehicles, a source from the country`s defense industry told TASS. The VPK-233136 also dubbed Tiger-M is a variant of the standard Tigr 4x4 light tactical vehicle but motorized with a Russian-made YaMZ engine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington DC on Wednesday (3 April 2019), making him the first leader of an international organization ever to do so. The Secretary General’s speech focused on the bond between Europe and North America, the enduring strength of the NATO Alliance and the importance of unity in an unpredictable world.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has a new hand-thrown drone in its arsenal, and experts said the human-sized fixed-wing aircraft has enhanced imaging devices and will greatly boost basic combat units' reconnaissance capability, Liu Xuanzun reports in The Global Times.

On March 26, Japan deployed hundreds of troops and missile units on its southwest island, in an area where China’s navy vessels sail frequently. This deployment is a move to counter what appears for months as a Chinese aggressive attitude, Nikoli Guillar reports in The Trumpet.

Brugger and Thomet (B&T) USA has won the competition over Sig Sauer and four other competitors. Their APC9K is chambered in 9mm and variants of the submachine gun are in use with police units such as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT teams).

Barrett Communications has been awarded a contract to supply the US funded Counter Narcotics Global Threats program for a republic in Central Asia. Barrett Communications is the specialist Australian designer and manufacturer of commercial and tactical HF and VHF radio communication systems.

The first bilateral exercise for thirty years between Egypt and the UK has successfully come to its conclusion. Exercise AMHOSE 1 saw the participation of 165 UK military personnel from Cyprus based 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment "The Poachers", in a joint exercise with members of the Egyptian 112 Infantry Brigade.

Last February, right on time, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH delivered the first of 71 protected mobile and recovery cranes to the Bundeswehr under a major procurement contract. In June 2017 the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support, or BAAINBw, awarded Liebherr the order, which is worth around €150 million.